Fall 2014 Newsletter

“Wind Swept” November 2014 What’s inside 2014 LMAA information night World’s Greatest Lakes Culinary Delights Lightning Strikes Rocks of Lake Manitou Lessons from Geese Member’s Notice Board Director’s Roster LMAA information night 2014 by Dave Anderson Place: Sandfield School House Date: Tuesday, August 12, 2014 Time: 7:30 – 9:30 pm Agenda Introductions Invading species update by Eric Labelle Lyme Disease presentation by Helke Ferrie Meet your neighbour / refreshment break Blue Jay Creek Fish Culture update by Paul Methner Door prize Draws Approximately 55 hearty people ventured outside on a cool rainy night to attend the meeting at the Sandfield School house. Eric Labelle who was working on the Island for the Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters as part of the Invading Species Awareness Program gave an update on the invading species in and around Lake Manitou. The invading species program now has an early detection and distribution mapping system (EDDMaps) that allows quick and easy 1 “Wind Swept” November 2014 reporting of invasive species. Of course you may still report by telephone by calling 1-800-563-7711. Eric stressed the importance of being educated as to the types of invaders, and taking every precaution to prevent their entry into Lake Manitou and onto Manitoulin. Helke Ferrie, who is a medical journalist, gave an eye opening presentation on Lyme Disease in Ontario. Lyme Disease is a disease that is transmitted through the bite of a tick which are relatively common in natural areas. The disease is difficult to diagnose and treat and there is currently no vaccine to prevent its spread. Helke indicated that there is a lot of misleading information about lyme disease and that we need to be very vigilant regarding our own health and treatment options. Helke has published a book on her findings and the LMAA executive has decided to purchase a number of these books and place them in libraries around the Island. Paul Methner gave a review of the Blue Jay Creek Fish Culture Station activities. Lake Manitou is a very important lake for the provincial fish culture operations. It is a source of wild disease free lake trout and walleye eggs. Paul indicated that both lake trout and walleye are doing well in Lake Manitou and natural reproduction in the lake is keeping both populations healthy, as a result they have decreased the number of lake trout being stocked in the lake. It doesn’t take many fishing days in the fall to reach their quota of eggs. In the fall of 2013 in 6 days they handled 770 adult lake trout and spawned 166 females to obtain 424,000 eggs. In the spring (2014) walleye netting they spawned 19 female walleye and obtained approximately 3.4 million eggs. Paul indicated that the largest walleye they handled was about 18 pounds and that they are now starting to see mature brook trout. If you have a topic that you would like to see covered in a future Educational forum please feel free to contact David Anderson at 519-371- 8834 or via e-mail at [email protected] 2 “Wind Swept” November 2014 36 Great Lakes Facts That Will Blow Your Mind 1. Lake Superior is actually not a lake at all, but an inland sea. 2. All of the four other Great Lakes, plus three more the size of Lake Erie, would fit inside of Lake Superior. 3. Isle Royale is a massive island surrounded by Lake Superior. Within this island are several smaller lakes. Yes, that’s a lake on a lake. 4. Despite its massive size, Lake Superior is an extremely young formation by Earth’s standards (only 10,000 years old). 5. There is enough water in Lake Superior to submerge all of North and South America in 1 foot of water. 6. Lake Superior contains 3 quadrillion gallons of water (3,000,000,000,000,000). All five of the Great Lakes combined contain 6 quadrillion gallons. 7. Contained within Lake Superior is a whopping 10% of the world’s fresh surface water. 8. It’s estimated there are about 100 million lake trout in Lake Superior. That’s nearly one-fifth of the human population of North America! 9. There are small outlets through which water leaves Lake Superior. It takes two centuries for all the water in the lake to replace itself. 10. Lake Erie is the fourth-largest Great Lake in surface area, and the smallest in depth. It’s the 11th largest lake on the planet. 11. There is alleged to be a 30- to 40-foot-long “monster” in Lake Erie named Bessie. The earliest recorded sighting goes back as early as 1793. 12. Water in Lake Erie replaces itself in only 2.6 years, which is notable considering the water in Lake Superior takes two centuries. 13. The original publication of Dr. Seuss’s The Lorax contained the line, “I hear things are just as bad up in Lake Erie.” Fourteen years later, the Ohio Sea Grant Program wrote to Seuss to make the case that conditions had improved. He removed the line. 14. Not only is lake Erie the smallest Great Lake when it comes to volume, but it’s surrounded by the most industry. Seventeen metropolitan areas, each with populations of more than 50,000, border the Lake Erie basin. 15. During the War of 1812, the U.S. beat the British in a naval battle called the Battle of Lake Erie, forcing them to abandon Detroit. 16. The shoreline of all the Great Lakes combined equals nearly 44% of the circumference of the planet. 3 “Wind Swept” November 2014 17. If not for the the Straits of Mackinac, Lake Michigan and Lake Huron might be considered one lake. Hydrologically speaking, they have the same mean water level and are considered one lake. 18. The Keystone State was one of the largest and most luxurious wooden steamships running during the Civil War. In 1861, it disappeared. In 2013, it was found 30 miles northeast of Harrisville under 175 feet of water. 19. Goderich Mine is the largest salt mine in the world. Part of it runs underneath Lake Huron, more than 500 meters underground. 20. Below Lake Huron, there are 9,000-year-old animal-herding structures used by prehistoric people from when the water levels were significantly lower. 21. There are massive sinkholes in Lake Huron that have high amounts of sulfur and low amounts of oxygen, almost replicating the conditions of Earth’s ancient oceans 3 million years ago. Unique ecosystems are contained within them. 22. Lake Huron is the second largest among the Great Lakes, and the fifth largest in the world. 23. In size, Lake Michigan ranks third among the Great Lakes, and sixth among all freshwater lakes in the world. 24. Lake Michigan is the only Great Lake that is entirely within the borders of the United States. 25. The largest fresh water sand dunes in the world line the shores of Lake Michigan.Because water enters and exits Lake Michigan through the same path, it takes 77 years longer for the water to replace itself than in Huron, despite their similarity in size and depth. (Lake Michigan: 99 years, Lake Huron: 22 years) 26. Within Lake Michigan there is a “triangle” with a similar reputation to the Bermuda Triangle, where a large amount of “strange disappearances” have occurred. There have also been alleged UFO sightings. 28. Singapore, Mich., is a ghost town on the shores of Lake Michigan that was buried under sand in 1871. Because of severe weather conditions and a lack of resources due to the need to rebuild after the great Chicago fire, the town was lost completely 29. In the mid-19th century, Lake Michigan had a pirate problem. Their booty: timber. In fact, the demise of Singapore is due in large part to the rapidly deforested area surrounding the town. 30. Jim Dreyer swam across Lake Michigan in 1998 (65 miles), and then in 2003, he swam the length of Lake Michigan (422 miles). 4 ∆ Satellite view of the Great Lakes 31. Lake Michigan was the location of the first recorded “Big Great Lakes disaster,” in which a steamer carrying 600 people collided with a schooner delivering timber to Chicago. Four hundred and fifty people died. 32. Lake Ontario is the smallest of the Great Lakes in surface area, and second smallest in depth. It’s the 14th largest lake on the planet. 33. The province Ontario was named after the lake, and not vice versa. 34. In 1804, a Canadian warship, His Majesty’s Ship Speedy, sank in Lake Ontario. In 1990, wreck hunter Ed Burtt manage to find it. Only, he isn’t allowed to recover any artifacts until a government-approved site to exhibit them is found. He’s still waiting. 35. Babe Ruth hit his first major league home run at Hanlan’s Point Stadium in Toronto. It landed in Lake Ontario and is believed to still be there. 5 “Wind Swept” November 2014 Member Notice Board ñ The 2015 Annual General Meeting is being held at 10 am July 11 at the Sandfield School. ñ The 2015 Information Night is tentatively booked for Tuesday August 11 in the Sandfield School House. ñ Check the spring edition of “Wind Swept” for confirmation of these above dates. ñ Many, many thanks to Mike Costigan Jr. for his hard work and dedication as past editor of “Wind Swept”. ñ Death Notices – The LMAA would like to acknowledge the passing of long time member Gary Polano.

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